Skypwithy is a name that was carried to England in the great wave of migration from Normandy following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Skypwithy family lived in Yorkshire, at Skipwith, a village and civil parish about 4 miles (6.4 km) northeast of Selby. Skipwith Hall was built in the early 1700's and still survives today as "a handsome mansion." [1]CITATION[CLOSE]Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print. Literally, the place name means "sheep farm, from the Old English words "scip" +"wic" [2]CITATION[CLOSE]Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4) and was first listed as Schipewic in the Domesday Book of 1086. [3]CITATION[CLOSE]Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)

Early Origins of the Skypwithy family

The surname Skypwithy was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat at Skipwith, where Robert of Estoteville, (sometimes called 'Stuteville',) the ancestor of the Skipwiths, Baron of Cottingham, was granted his lands by William, Duke of Normandy, after his Conquest of England in 1066 A.D. This family was one of the most distinguished in all Normandy and held the Castle at Ambrieres. They were very close both to King Henry, and his brother Duke Robert of Normandy. The Baron became Lord of the Manor of Skipwith. The first to assume the name Skipwith was Patrick de Skipwith, the second son of the Baron. [4]CITATION[CLOSE]Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print. "Snore Hall [in the parish of Fordham in Norfolk], now a farmhouse, was the seat of the family of Skipwith, who entertained Charles I. on the night previous to his delivering himself to the Scottish army. " [1]CITATION[CLOSE]Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.

Skypwithy Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Skypwithy were recorded, including Skipwith, Skipworth, Shipwith, Shipworth and others.

Early Notables of the Skypwithy family (pre 1700)

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was William Skipwith (fl.1348), Member of Parliament for York; William Skipwith (died 1547), Member of Parliament for Lincolnshire in 1529 and 1539; William Skipwith (died 1586), Member of Parliament for Lincolnshire in 1547; Sir Henry Skipwith, 1st Baronet of Prestwould (d. c. 1658); Sir... Another 78 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Skypwithy Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Skypwithy family to the New World and Oceana

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Skypwithy arrived in North America very early: Peter Skipwith, great grandson of Sir William Skipwith who settled in Virginia in 1789.